The new I.T.S site will feature an advanced flavour laboratory, equipped with several creation labs, flavour sample bays and dedicated application spaces for bakery, dairy, beverages and confectionery.
The company’s microbrewery, which is currently housed in the existing facility, will also move to the new location with I.T.S primed to move in by the end of the year.
Both raw materials and finished product will be held on the new site to enable I.T.S to deliver rapid turnaround times and a stable supply to its customers.
Meanwhile, the current I.T.S factory will be converted into a purely manufacturing and technical site. This will increase production capacity, allowing I.T.S to increase its flavour manufacturing capabilities.
Established in 2009 by Mike Bagshaw, with the focus on innovation and fun, I.T.S now employs 24 people and supplies natural flavours throughout the food and beverage industries.
“When I set up I.T.S 15 years ago at my kitchen table, I wanted to shake up the flavours industry, inject some real innovation and encourage customers to think outside the box,” Bagshaw said.
“In recent years we have seen an explosion in popular culture, use of the internet and social media which, in turn, have fuelled fast changing food trends. As a proudly independent flavour house, we can keep on top of the latest trends and respond quickly to them, giving customers access to flavours which they may not be able to source easily from larger flavour suppliers.”
With a thriving market ahead of him, Bagshaw says it’s time for his business to take the next step.
“The time has come to invest in the next stage of I.T.S’ growth and to expand to bigger and better facilities that will enable us not only to develop some fantastic new flavours but also give us the space to work directly with customers on product development and manufacture.”
Watch our exclusive tour around the I.T.S factory last year, here.